In August of 2012, journalist and Houston native Austin Tice was taken captive in Syria while returning home from covering the Syrian civil war.
Since then Tice’s parents have tried to keep attention on his case. The U.S. government reportedly still believes he is alive.
“We know he’s alive. And we’re sure he wants to come. There’s never been any reason we didn’t have the same level of hope and confidence that he will,” said Marc Tice, Austin’s father, in an interview with NBC’s Today show.
The parents of Austin Tice, an American freelance journalist who was kidnapped in Syria six years ago, tell @savannahguthrie that they believe their son is still alive and also discuss how the Trump administration is helping them. pic.twitter.com/zEckOgsnle
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 14, 2018
The anniversary of Tice’s disappearance prompted U.S. Senator John Cornyn to release a statement.
“I’m in awe of their perseverance as they continue their relentless push to bring him home,” Cornyn said of Tice’s parents. Cornyn renewed his call for Tice’s release, saying his desire to see him come home was shared by the Trump administration.
In April, the FBI offered a one million dollar reward for information leading to his return.